Method of electric welding.



E. THOMSON, METHOD OF ELECTRIC WELDING. APPLICATION FILED JULY10,I909.

984,719. PatentedFeb.21,l911.

' 2 BKBETE-SHEET 1.

v E, THOMSON. METHOD OF ELECTRIC WELDING.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1909.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

,2 SHEETB-SHEET 2.

8 W00 wtoz lwubThomsom EYM H SGH 1112313 UNITED sTAtrns PATENT orricn.

ELIHU THOMSON, OE SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO THOMSON ELECTRIC WELDING COMPANY, OF LYNN. MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF ELECTRIC WELDING.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELIHU TIIoMsoN', acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Swampscott, in thecounty of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements .in Methods of Electric \Velding, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to the method of.

sides of two other rods or pieces and may therefore be advantageouslyemployed in constructing various articles of metal manufacture, as forinstance metal grills, grids or frames embodying a number of crosspiecesunited to end-pieces or pieces common' to said cross-pieces. In theusual process of uniting )ieces ofmetal by a butt welding process thereis, of necessity, a shortening of the piece attendant upontheupsetting'of the plastic metal at the joint under the endwise pressureapplied in" the o eration'. This involves a change in the a dimension ofthe completed structure or in other words an alteration in the relativeposition of the two pieces due to the movement of one upon the other inthe operation of forming thejoint. Hence, in welding up a frame or gridhaving two or more crosspieces of definite dimensions, welding of theparts involving an n )setting in' the ordinary sense is inadmissible ifit be desired to do the work by welding the joints in succession'or oneafter the other.

The object of my present invention is primarily to permit the union ofthe pieces in a simple and effective wayusing an electric c1irrent asthe heating medium 'but with out any attendant shortening of the piecesin the operation.

A furtherobject is to enable the work to be done with a minimum amountof preliminary preparation or shaping of the material.

" Generally stated, my lnventionconsists 1n fining the two pieces to bejoined ri 'dly in the r ultimate relative position an whileSpetification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 10, 1909.

' Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Serial No. 506,881.

maintaining them in that posit1on crowding a uniting material adapted tobecome plastic by heat into a space provided between the pieces at theirmeeting portions and heating such uniting material to plasticity bypassing a. heating electric current from one to the other of saidpieces. The metal or material so crowded into such space is preferably aseparate piece of metal, but might be a portion of one of the pieces tobe joined as will be more particularly hereinafter described. It ispreferred, however, to use a separate piece of .etal, in which case 'itis also preferred to form the same as a wedge and to provide acorrespondingly formed space between the parts at their meeting portionsinto which the wedge-shaped piece may be crowded.

Other details and modifications of my invention will be moreparticularly hereinafter described and then specified in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a grid, tothe construction of which my invention is applicable. Fig. 2 shows theparts to be united as. as-' sembledfor the operation of. joining them.Fig. 3 illustrates a modification of my invention Where only moderatestrength 0t union is required. Fig. 4 illustrates in side view furthermodification of the invention and Fig. 5 shows a preferred manner offorming one of the pieces so as to afford a space for the unitingmaterial. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section through the end-piece shownin Fig. 5. Figs, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate further modifications of theinvention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the cross-pieces of the grid or frame are indicatedat 2 while 3 shows the end or side piecdst'o which they are to beunited.

In Fig. 2, 4 indicates ashi'tahle clamp for rigidly holding or fixingthe part 2 in the desired relative position to the part 3 and 5indicates an abutment comprising preferably a block of copper or othergood con- 100 ducting material which holds the part 3 againstdisplacement in the operation. These blocks or pieces land Eimayconstitute the means aiso for feeding heavy heat ing electric current tothe pieces 2 and 3 as 105 is usualin ordin try electric weldingoperations or such current may be su plied in other ways, and passedthrough tie pieces from one to the other as well understood in the art.

The side-piece 3 being square, a space between the same and theend-piece 2 may be provided by beveling the end of piece indicated bythe line 6. This bevel may extend from edge to edge of the piece 2 andeither wholly or partially across the entire face of the end. In otherwords, the space between the pieces at the joint when they are assembledin their ultimate relative position and preparatory to the crowding inof the uniting material may embrace a whole orv a part of the section atthe point. It will be further apparent that the bevel instead ofextending from side to sidc'or edge to edge may extend only partiallyacross, as indicated in Fig.4, in which the piece 2 is shown as beveledfrom both edges. Moreover, the end may be formed with a groove asindicated in the plan Fig. 5, the base 7 of said groove being inclinedand the sides being closed in by the material of the piece 2.

' In Fig. 2 8 indicates a wedge-shaped piece of metal adapted to beforced in sidewisc into the space between the pieces 2 audit. The metalfor this piece may be of the same or different material from that ofpieces 2 and 3 according to the kind of joint required. In the,operation of forming the joint, parts 2 and 3 are assembled and heldrigidly in position shown, and the metal is pushed in sidewise whileheating current is passed from one piece to the other. The metal of thewedge becomes plastic and adheres to the pieces joining them togetherand without any change of dimension of the structure or shortening ofeither of the component parts. Any projecting part of the wedge-shapedpiece 8 may be removed or cut oif after the operation, although it maybe so proportioned as to complete the joint when pushed in and requireno cutting off or dressing oif.

lVhen only moderate strength is required. the parts 2 and 3 may beassembled and held rigidly in position as before without any preliminarybeveling or preparation of the ends or edges; but with their fiat facesnot quite meeting so as to have a space into which the uniting materialmay be crowded. Such uniting material may be a piece of metal 9 as shownwhich may be crowded against the two pieces over-the space and whichwill be rendered plastic by the passage of thedieating current. In thiscase the superfluous metal would have to be cut off. As shown in thesame figure, thc uniting material may be a small p t-cc of metal It)crowded into the space after beingrcndcrcd plastic, by the use of acrowding tool. 11. Obviously. the piece of metal 10 may be so small thatit will be practically all forced into the space and no dressing orcutting off be necessary. .\s already pointed out, the

bevel o ytaper may be from both sides as indicated in Fig. i and theuniting material may be crowded in from both edges of the piece 2. Asindicated in Fig. 5 the space may be in the form of a groove extendingwholly or partially across the face of the piece 2, said space beingthen closed at its sides as at 12 by the material of the piece 2 so thatthe metal crowded into the space will be prevented from being forced outat the edges of the joint or will not show excepting at the wider end ofthe groove after the work is completed.

As shown in Fig. 7, the end-piece 2 may be slightly flared to provide aspace into which the plastic metal may be forced by the crowding tool'llwithout unnecessary movement or displacement of the parts 2 and 3 withrelation to one another. In this case obviously, the plastic materialnot a separate piece but consists of a part of the piece 52 itself.

As shown in Fig. 3), the tlare may be of such form that the piece 2 willengage piece 3 on the corners of the latter when they are assembled, theaction of thecrowding tool being as before to crowd the metal down intothe place aiforded by the hollowing out of the end-piece 2.

, Qbviously, and as shown in Fig. 8, the uniting pieces, as 10, may besmall pieces applied in spots as for instance at corners when greatstrength is not needed.

I do not limit myself in any way as to the shape of the space whichreceives the material rendered plastic by the current and forced orcrowded into such space to form the unior. v

In constructing a grid, or frame, the two or more cuss-pieces, as shownin Fig. 1, may be united successively to the end pieces 3 by simplymoving the cross-piece 3 along longit-udinally in front of the abutment5 and bringing successive pieces 2 into position in the clamps orholders 4, and setting them in position, after which the passage of theelectric current through the piece crowded into or inserted in the spacewill cause the latter to be heated to plasticity and to thus unite thepieces 2 and 3. Obviously in all these cases the union is effectedwithout any change in the relative positions of pieces 2 and 3 ordisplacement or movement of either one after they have been assembledand fixed in the holding devices preparatory to the uniting operation.Hence, it is easy to cut the pieces 2 to their ultimate length desiredspaces idly holding joints to be formed and then passing heating currentthrough the pieces at all the meeting. points and inserting, forcing orcrowding theumting metal into the spaces provi ed What I claim as myinvention is:

1. The method of joining two pieces of metalconsisting-in setting thepieces rigidly in place for passage of a heating electric current,crowding a uniting material into a Space between the pieces and passinga heating electric current from one to the other.

2. The method of joining the component parts of a metal structurewithout change of dimension, consisting iii'rigidly fixingthe parts intheir ultimate relative position crowdingmetal adapted to become plasticby heat into a space between the parts at the point of junction triccurrent from one part to the other.

3.'The method otjoining two pieces of metal consisting in fixing themrigidly in position for passage of a heating electric current, wcdglng apiece of metal adapted to become plastic by heat into a space betweenthe meeting portions of the pieces and passing a heating electriccurrent from one to the other.

4. The method of joining the component parts of a metal structurewithout change of dimension, consisting in. fixing the parts in place intheir ultimate relative position, wedging metal adapted to becomeplastic by heat into a space between the parts at their meeting portionsand passing heating electric current from one part to the other.

5. The method of joining a rod or piece of metal at its endsrespectively to the sides of two other pieces by fixing the pieces intheir ultimate relative positions and forcing metal adapted to becomeplastic by heat into the between their meeting portions and passing anelectric current from one part to the other as and for the purposedescribed.

6. The method of joining two pieces of metal consisting in fixing themrigidly in their ultimate relative position and, while maintaining themin such position, crowding a piece of metal into a spacebetwcen themeeting portions of such pieces and passing a heating electric currentfrom one piece to the other. 1

7. The method of joining two pieces of metal consisting inmaiutainingthe pieces rigidly in theirultimate relative position, crowding aseparate piece of metal adapted to'becomc plastic by heat into a spacebetween the pieces and passing a heating electric current from one tothe other.

8. The method of joining two pieces of metal consisting in maintainingthem rig idly .in their ultimate relative position, crowding materialadapted to become plastic by heat into a space between the meeting orfixing the parts of all the and passing heating 'elecadapted to berendered the space portions electric current from one to the other.

9. The method of joining two pieces metal consisting in fixing andmaintaining them rigidly in their ultimate relative posi tion, forcing aseparate piece of metal plastic by heat into a; space between themeeting portions of the pieces and passing heating electric current.from one to the other of said pieces. 4

10. The method of joining two pieces of metal cons sting in fixing themin place "and maintaining them fixed in their desireiii:ulti

mate relative position andcrowding a, piece of metal rendered plastic byheat into a space between the meeting portions closed at its side by thematerial of said pieces 11. The method of joining two their ultimaterelative position and wed mg a piece of metal rendered'plastic .byeatinto a space between the pieces at theirmetmg portions closed acitssidesby rial of said pieces.

12'. The method of joining two pieces of metal to the sides of a thirdpieceby setting the pieces and rigidly holdingth'em in position, forcingpieces of metal into spaces be tween the meeting portions of the saidtwo pieces and the third piece and passing a heating'clectric currentfrom. one part to the other.

13. The method of joining twopieces of metal together consisting in endof one of said pieces a groove having an inclined rear wall, fixing andmaintaining said piece rigidly in position with its end presented to thepiece to which it is to be joined, passing a heating electric currentacross the joint from one piece to the otherand forcing apiece of metalendwise into sa d groove as and for the purpose described.

14. The method of joining two pieces of metal consisting in bevelingthe. meeting per-- tion of the pieces with a bevel inclined to of thepieces and passing heating pieces of metal consisting in holding themrigidly in the matethe line of junction, setting said pieces in positionand forcing apiece of metal into formed by the bevel and passing aheating the other in the line of the joint.

15. The method of joining two. pieces of metal without changeofdimension, consistmg in setting the pieces and maintaining electriccurrent from one piece to.

them rigidly in their ultimate relative position and uniting them bycrowding metal adapted to be rendered plastic by heat; and crowded bytransverse pressure into a space provided at the meeting portions of thepieces and by passing heating electric curto render rent from. one pieceto the other the uniting material. plastic. 16. The method hereindescribed of joining three component parts of a metal struc- I turecomprising two end parts and an intermediate partconsisting in fixingthe parts g a uniting material adapted to be wd plastic by heat into aspace between the meeting portions of the end parts and intermediatepart and passing a heating electric current from one part to the otherto render such uniting material plastic.

17. The method of joining two pieces of metal consisting in holdingthemrigidly in their ultimate relative position and C1OWling a piece ofmetal adapted to become plastie by heat into a groove formed in thematerial of said pieces at their meeting portion and passing a heatingelectric current from one to the other of said pieces.

in their ultimate relative position, I

lb. The method of forming a butt joint by providing a groove having abeveled all j in the end of one of the pieces to be joined,

fixing the pieces in desired relative position and while maintainingthem insueh position inserting a piece of metal bet-ween the meetingportions and passing an electric current from one piece to the other.

Signed at Lynn in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts thisfirst da of July A. D. 1909.

ELIHU THOMSON. Vitnesses J OHN A. MoMaNns, J12, CHARLES A. BARNARD.

